US5353696A - Conching device - Google Patents

Conching device Download PDF

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Publication number
US5353696A
US5353696A US08/126,721 US12672193A US5353696A US 5353696 A US5353696 A US 5353696A US 12672193 A US12672193 A US 12672193A US 5353696 A US5353696 A US 5353696A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
conching machine
conching
trough
hood
machine
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US08/126,721
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English (en)
Inventor
Max Stadelmann
Hans-Joachim Konig
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Buehler AG
Original Assignee
Buehler AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Buehler AG filed Critical Buehler AG
Priority to US08/126,721 priority Critical patent/US5353696A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US5353696A publication Critical patent/US5353696A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23G—COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF
    • A23G1/00—Cocoa; Cocoa products, e.g. chocolate; Substitutes therefor
    • A23G1/04—Apparatus specially adapted for manufacture or treatment of cocoa or cocoa products
    • A23G1/12—Chocolate-refining mills, i.e. roll refiners
    • A23G1/125—Conches
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
    • B01F35/00—Accessories for mixers; Auxiliary operations or auxiliary devices; Parts or details of general application
    • B01F35/10—Maintenance of mixers
    • B01F35/145—Washing or cleaning mixers not provided for in other groups in this subclass; Inhibiting build-up of material on machine parts using other means

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a conching device for treating chocolate paste by kneading and mixing, comprising a trough wherein at least one rotor with refining tools rotates.
  • Conching devices may be designed as dry conching devices or as liquid conching devices. It is preferred to use conching devices that can be operated both as dry conching devices and liquid conching devices. With such a conching device as it has become known from DE-A 36 26 732, refining tools with refining blades extending at a slant angle to the trough wall are provided, which refining tools serve as scrapers or wipers for the dry treatment when the direction of rotation is reversed.
  • the conching devices can have only one rotor in a trough compartment assigned to it, or else a plurality of rotors in trough compartments respectively assigned to them.
  • This object is achieved by providing a covering hood above the trough with a cleaning installation for its bottom side, in such a manner that the covering hood covers the opening on the upper side of the trough at least partially in a closed state. It has become apparent that a hood covering the trough opening is advantageously shaped cylindrically, preferably being of a circular cylindrical form.
  • This shape enables the application of a simple mechanical cleaning system which comprises a shaper unit engaging the bottom side or inner surface of the covering hood and rotating about the cylinder axis, as well as a drive unit for moving the scraper.
  • this drive is a reciprocating one as it has become known from DE-A-1 209 548, by way of example.
  • the scraper is preferably caused to first reduce its speed and then to change its direction.
  • the devices for speed reduction and change of direction are designed in a manner known per se according to the type of drive chosen.
  • the speed-reduction device and the device for inversion of direction are designed in the form of electrical circuits. If a fluidic swivel drive is used for moving the wiper, the speed-reduction device controls a pressure reducer valve, and the device for inversion of direction controls the pilot valves of the swivel drive.
  • the bearing of the wiper will be simplified by providing an electric motor or a fluidic swivel drive as driving unit.
  • the surface of revolution of the covering hood need not be a circular cylinder since, with the aid of a cam drive (in a similar way as it has already been suggested for the windscreen wipers of motor vehicles), a cylindrical shape (in the most general sense) differing from this form can be achieved.
  • a cam drive in a similar way as it has already been suggested for the windscreen wipers of motor vehicles
  • a cylindrical shape in the most general sense
  • the cleaning device rotate about a rotational axis within the covering hood.
  • this would call for a corresponding height of construction of the covering hood, all the more so since the cleaning device performs its function on the inner surface of the covering hood merely in the upper area of its motion.
  • the covering hood at least in part, as a cylindrically-shaped unit, in particular having a circular cylindrical shape, and by making the wiper pivotable about an axis whose center preferably coincides with that of the circular cylinder.
  • At least one, but preferably two air passage openings are arranged within the covering hood. Since a volatilization of organic acids, such as acetic acid, and also a desired oxidation of flavorings will result during the conching process, it is of particular importance to effect an air circulation without causing a short circuit, so that the outgoing air produced is carried away after its development from the chamber delimited by the covering hood and completely replaced by fresh air in a short time.
  • An embodiment according to the teachings of the invention provides a forced air conveyance with a least one blower for generating a low or an excess pressure. This forced conveyance is particularly efficient when the air supply and discharge openings are placed correctly.
  • the opening for the exhaust sir should not be located within the area stroken over by the wiper because then there would a risk of the chocolate paste being sucked in. Therefore, the air discharge opening will be advantageously arranged in the area of one of the two end surfaces in longitudinal direction or, if required, in one of the two lateral border areas of the covering hood.
  • the air supply opening is to be located as far away from the air discharge opening as possible with respect to the circulatory motion.
  • the optimum position of the air passage openings also depends on the respective flow rates of the inand outgoing air.
  • the flavor can be very much improved by controlling the amount of air in contact with the chocolate paste.
  • a particular improvement of the flavor has been achieved in a conching device for treating chocolate paste by kneading and mixing it, comprising a trough enclosing a trough compartment wherein at least one rotor with refining tools rotates, and by providing a covering above the trough, as well as by providing the trough compartment with a suction opening for producing a low pressure, or vacuum, respectively.
  • the upper wall need not be curved.
  • FIG. 1 shows a representation of a conching device and a scheme of a wiper control
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a further embodiment of a conching device
  • FIG. 3 represents a modification of the wiper drive shown in FIG. 1.
  • a conching device comprises a trough 2 enclosing a trough compartment and rotors 3, 4, and 5, which are driven in a rotatory manner in respective trough departments by axes 3', 4', and 5'. Even though the embodiment shows a threeshaft conching device, any other number of rotors, such as one or two, would be conceivable as well.
  • An opening 6 on the upper side of the trough 2 is covered preferably by a cylinder-segment-shaped covering hood 7, which is shut off in axial direction on both sides by end surfaces 8 preferably arranged at right angles to the axis.
  • openings 9 are provided (only one of them is visible on this side of the covering hood), which serve to supply fresh air and discharge the vapors produced during the conching process.
  • An embodiment in accordance with the teachings of the invention provides a suction device for discharging the vapors in the form of a blower 33, which, if required, may additionally comprise a cleaning installation 34, e.g. for the catalytic cleaning of the exhaust air leaving the treatment chamber which is enclosed by the conching device.
  • the hood 7 can be swinged open on its side by at least two hinges 10, by way of example, which connect one side of the hood 7 to the casing of the conching device 1 so that the opening 6 can be reached from above.
  • a further opening device provided by the invention is composed of rolls 11 according to FIG. 2, of which rolls at least two in each case are attached to parallel-running outer surfaces of the hood 7, as well as of rail units in accordance with the rolls, which rail units are mounted on the trough border.
  • the hood 7 can be displaced on the rails so far until a sufficiently large area of the opening 6 has been given free.
  • a wiper 15 In the center of the cylinder segment, there is an axis 13 supporting the end surfaces 8 on both sides. At least two connecting rods radially project from the axis 13 to a wiper 15.
  • the wiper is advantageously provided with a guide pin 16 and a holding down attachment adjoining it, e.g. a spring 17 on the radially outer end of the connecting rods 14, and pressed onto the lower surface of the hood 7. It is conveniently pivotally mounted about an axis 16' so that it can adapt to the upper surface of the hood 7, in particular when it is not exactly of a circulo-cylindrical form.
  • a drive unit 18 with a motor 18' moves the wiper along the bottom side of the hood in both directions until the lateral border areas of this bottom side.
  • a fluidic swivel drive may be provided as a drive unit, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.
  • a further embodiment according to FIG. 2 provides a covering hood 7 comprising a uniform transverse section with preferably three straight sections running along a certain part of its longitudinal axis.
  • the cleaning device is composed of a wiper carriage whose three wipers 17a, b, and c closely fit the bottom side of the hood 7.
  • This wiper carriage is guided vertically and laterally by means of rolls 22 at three places at the least not lying on a straight line, but preferably at two places on both sides each -- in the lateral border areas of the covering hood 7.
  • the wiper carriage is moved backward and forward by an electric motor 23, and, if required, by a linear motor. Via a chain 24, the electric motor 23 drives a shaft 25 carried on both sides of the wiper carriage.
  • Two toothed wheels 26 that are attached to the shaft 25 each engage a toothed rack 27 fixed on two parallel-running lower inner edges of the covering hood 7.
  • a toothed rack 27 fixed on two parallel-running lower inner edges of the covering hood 7.
  • at least one, but preferably two limit contacts each are provided, serving to control the drive unit via a speed switching circuit and a switching unit for change of direction in such a manner that the wiper carriage performs a periodic reciprocating motion along the longitudinal direction of the covering hood 7.
  • a piston-and-cylinder unit is provided as swivel drive drivable as such by means of any driving fluid.
  • a rotatory fluidic motor may be used, yet the fluidic drive shown above suits better for this purpose.
  • the piston-and-cylinder unit With such a piston-and-cylinder unit, relatively large regulating distances in conjunction with relatively great forces can be achieved.
  • the cylinder of the swivel drive 115 may be designed as pivoting about a vertical axis 119, yet it may suffice to provide an elongated slot in a driving lever tightly connected to shaft 18.
  • a cam plate 121 may be provided which pivots together with the wiper 15, and which cooperates with a cam follower 36 in order to actuate a pilot valve 123.
  • the form of the cam plate 121 is designed in such a manner that the irregularities brought about by the swivel motion will be compensated for, that is to say that the movement of the wiper 15 will be somewhat accelerated in the border regions and somewhat slowed down in the mid-zones by increasing the cross-sectional area of the above-mentioned pilot valve 123 for an acceleration of the motion, or by reducing its cross-sectional area for slowing down the motion.
  • the piston-and-cylinder unit 115 is powered (hydraulically or pneumatically) by a source of pressure 124.
  • a relay valve 126 is provided for switching the device on or off.
  • the supply line 125 ramifies into a switching circuit 128a and a control circuit 128b.
  • a pressure reducing valve comes first in the driving circuit 128b.
  • the pilot valve 123 whose cross section of passage is adjusted, as previously described, by the cam plate 121 in dependence upon the swiveling position of the wiper 115.
  • the piston of the piston-and-cylinder unit 15 may be biased by pressure via a main valve from one side or the other, as generally known.
  • the main valve controls the reversal of motion and is regulated with the help of pilot valves 129 and 130, which, by switching over main valve 132, initiate the reversal of motion of piston rod 116.
  • the main valve 132 is advantageously designed as bistable.
  • the pilot valves 129 and 130 have notches 133 which are actuated in the respective limit positions of the cam plate 121, whereby the main valve 132 is switched over hydraulically or pneumatically into one or other stable switch position.
  • the dynamic behavior of the piston rod 116 between the two changeover points for reversal of motion is determined solely by the pilot valve 123, or whose cross section of passage, respectively, which is controlled by the shape of the cam plate.
  • the change-over of the main valve for initiating the reversal of motion may also take place by electromechanical means.
  • the pilot valves 129 and 130 would have to be replaced by corresponding switching devices, such as limit switches, or the like (in accordance with the limit switches 19).

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Confectionery (AREA)
  • Peptides Or Proteins (AREA)
  • Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
US08/126,721 1991-08-02 1993-09-23 Conching device Expired - Fee Related US5353696A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/126,721 US5353696A (en) 1991-08-02 1993-09-23 Conching device

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE4125629 1991-08-02
DE4125629A DE4125629A1 (de) 1991-08-02 1991-08-02 Conche
US92192492A 1992-07-29 1992-07-29
US08/126,721 US5353696A (en) 1991-08-02 1993-09-23 Conching device

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US92192492A Continuation 1991-08-02 1992-07-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US5353696A true US5353696A (en) 1994-10-11

Family

ID=6437563

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US08/126,721 Expired - Fee Related US5353696A (en) 1991-08-02 1993-09-23 Conching device

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US5353696A (de)
EP (1) EP0526771B1 (de)
JP (1) JP3067899B2 (de)
AT (1) ATE126967T1 (de)
DE (2) DE4125629A1 (de)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5454298A (en) * 1995-01-31 1995-10-03 Lu; Tsai-Chuan Apparatus for meshing dehydrating and desiccating food products
US5505542A (en) * 1993-07-06 1996-04-09 Buhler Ag Conching machine with multiple rotors
US5657687A (en) * 1993-08-04 1997-08-19 Callebaut N.V. Device for conching chocolate compound
US5814362A (en) * 1996-06-11 1998-09-29 Richard Frisse Gmbh Method and apparatus for refining chocolate mass
US5823673A (en) * 1994-09-16 1998-10-20 Richard Frisse Gmbh Apparatus for processing dispersions of solids in a fatty phase
US6095035A (en) * 1998-12-30 2000-08-01 Lyco Manufacturing, Inc. Dual drum food processor
US6129008A (en) * 1996-09-12 2000-10-10 Richard Frisse Gmbh Apparatus for mixing and refining a chocolate mass
US8066427B2 (en) * 2006-06-12 2011-11-29 Don Wong Stirring and mixing apparatus
CN111729336A (zh) * 2020-07-06 2020-10-02 宿州市皖神面制品有限公司 一种酒精糟滤液的蒸发浓缩设备

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5865536A (en) * 1995-11-29 1999-02-02 Richard Frisse Gmbh Method and conching machine for introducing a substance into it
DE10113395C1 (de) * 2001-03-16 2002-08-08 Integral Energietechnik Gmbh Schaber
DE102006022660A1 (de) * 2006-05-12 2007-11-15 Gebrüder Lödige Maschinenbau -Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung Mischer mit Abstreifern
JP7165025B2 (ja) * 2018-10-23 2022-11-02 株式会社明治 フラクトオリゴ糖配合油脂およびその製造方法ならびにフラクトオリゴ糖配合油性菓子およびその製造方法
CN116747732B (zh) * 2023-07-26 2023-11-10 河北华胜科技有限公司 便于清洁的龙门式混合装置

Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2792304A (en) * 1954-01-05 1957-05-14 Senzani Machine Company Apparatus and method for retaining color of alimentary paste products
US2888045A (en) * 1956-09-28 1959-05-26 George W Reaves Feed mixers and blenders
US2992813A (en) * 1958-04-30 1961-07-18 Iorio Patsy De Dough mixing machine
DE1209548B (de) * 1963-07-25 1966-01-27 Huels Chemische Werke Ag Rotor zum Verteilen fliessfaehiger und Entfernen anhaftender Stoffe in Duennschichtverdampfern
US3314383A (en) * 1964-05-11 1967-04-18 Swift & Co Method and apparatus for vacuum mixing food emulsions
US3634106A (en) * 1968-07-24 1972-01-11 Cadbury Bros Ltd Method of, and means for manufacturing chocolate
US3663231A (en) * 1970-11-17 1972-05-16 Alfred George Tourell Process of liquifying and conching refined chocolate and an apparatus for performing the process
US3682086A (en) * 1970-11-18 1972-08-08 Werner & Pfleiderer Device for producing a mass of chocolate
US3901482A (en) * 1974-05-20 1975-08-26 Marion Corp Dough mixer
US3992985A (en) * 1974-01-02 1976-11-23 Beehive Machinery Inc. Apparatus for processing meat material with carbon dioxide
US4679498A (en) * 1983-08-26 1987-07-14 Clextral Installation for preparing a chocolate paste
DE3626732A1 (de) * 1986-08-07 1988-02-11 Buehler Ag Geb Conche
CH673617A5 (en) * 1983-01-19 1990-03-30 List Ag Continuous mixing kneader - with stirrer discharging into twin screw extruder
US5083506A (en) * 1991-03-06 1992-01-28 Blentech Corporation Continuous compartmented mixer

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2038481A1 (de) * 1970-08-03 1972-02-10 Reinhold Moeller Conche
DE3300299A1 (de) * 1983-01-07 1984-07-19 Stetter Gmbh, 8940 Memmingen Reinigungsabstreifer bei mischern, insbesondere fuer baustoffe
DE3615019A1 (de) * 1985-06-19 1987-01-02 Kralovopolska Strojirna Abstreifvorrichtung mit schwenkbaren wischern fuer apparate zum abstreifen von einem fluessigkeitsfilm

Patent Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2792304A (en) * 1954-01-05 1957-05-14 Senzani Machine Company Apparatus and method for retaining color of alimentary paste products
US2888045A (en) * 1956-09-28 1959-05-26 George W Reaves Feed mixers and blenders
US2992813A (en) * 1958-04-30 1961-07-18 Iorio Patsy De Dough mixing machine
DE1209548B (de) * 1963-07-25 1966-01-27 Huels Chemische Werke Ag Rotor zum Verteilen fliessfaehiger und Entfernen anhaftender Stoffe in Duennschichtverdampfern
US3314383A (en) * 1964-05-11 1967-04-18 Swift & Co Method and apparatus for vacuum mixing food emulsions
US3634106A (en) * 1968-07-24 1972-01-11 Cadbury Bros Ltd Method of, and means for manufacturing chocolate
US3663231A (en) * 1970-11-17 1972-05-16 Alfred George Tourell Process of liquifying and conching refined chocolate and an apparatus for performing the process
US3682086A (en) * 1970-11-18 1972-08-08 Werner & Pfleiderer Device for producing a mass of chocolate
US3992985A (en) * 1974-01-02 1976-11-23 Beehive Machinery Inc. Apparatus for processing meat material with carbon dioxide
US3901482A (en) * 1974-05-20 1975-08-26 Marion Corp Dough mixer
CH673617A5 (en) * 1983-01-19 1990-03-30 List Ag Continuous mixing kneader - with stirrer discharging into twin screw extruder
US4679498A (en) * 1983-08-26 1987-07-14 Clextral Installation for preparing a chocolate paste
DE3626732A1 (de) * 1986-08-07 1988-02-11 Buehler Ag Geb Conche
US5083506A (en) * 1991-03-06 1992-01-28 Blentech Corporation Continuous compartmented mixer

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5505542A (en) * 1993-07-06 1996-04-09 Buhler Ag Conching machine with multiple rotors
US5657687A (en) * 1993-08-04 1997-08-19 Callebaut N.V. Device for conching chocolate compound
US6227698B1 (en) * 1994-09-16 2001-05-08 Richard Frisse Gmbh Apparatus for processing dispersions of solids in a fatty phase
US5823673A (en) * 1994-09-16 1998-10-20 Richard Frisse Gmbh Apparatus for processing dispersions of solids in a fatty phase
US6280076B1 (en) * 1994-09-16 2001-08-28 Richard Frisse Gmbh Apparatus for processing dispersions of solids in a fatty phase
US5454298A (en) * 1995-01-31 1995-10-03 Lu; Tsai-Chuan Apparatus for meshing dehydrating and desiccating food products
US5814362A (en) * 1996-06-11 1998-09-29 Richard Frisse Gmbh Method and apparatus for refining chocolate mass
US6129008A (en) * 1996-09-12 2000-10-10 Richard Frisse Gmbh Apparatus for mixing and refining a chocolate mass
US6095035A (en) * 1998-12-30 2000-08-01 Lyco Manufacturing, Inc. Dual drum food processor
US8066427B2 (en) * 2006-06-12 2011-11-29 Don Wong Stirring and mixing apparatus
US8206026B2 (en) 2006-06-12 2012-06-26 Wong Don M Food flipping and turning apparatus
US8210737B2 (en) 2006-06-12 2012-07-03 Wong Don M Food preparation method
US8303166B2 (en) 2006-06-12 2012-11-06 Wong Don M Food flipping and turning spatula
CN111729336A (zh) * 2020-07-06 2020-10-02 宿州市皖神面制品有限公司 一种酒精糟滤液的蒸发浓缩设备

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE59203446D1 (de) 1995-10-05
JP3067899B2 (ja) 2000-07-24
EP0526771A1 (de) 1993-02-10
JPH05192082A (ja) 1993-08-03
ATE126967T1 (de) 1995-09-15
EP0526771B1 (de) 1995-08-30
DE4125629A1 (de) 1993-02-04

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